While traditional travel photography aims to capture the essence of a destination, aesthetic travel photography takes it to the next level by focusing on the beauty and artistry of the scenes captured.
If you want your social media account to stand out from the crowd, then finding the right photographs is essential.
However, knowing what you should photograph to get the right aesthetics may not be something that comes naturally to you. Choosing the right aesthetics is key to getting the likes and followers that you desire.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best aesthetic travel photography ideas to inspire you to capture the best images on your next adventure.
Whether you’re a professional photographer or just starting out, these ideas will help you see the world in a new light. So grab your camera and get ready to explore the world through a lens of beauty and creativity!
1. Take To The Rooftops
Cities and towns can be some of the best places for photographers to capture aesthetic photos. Every city has its own vibe and there’s no better way to capture this than from the rooftops.
If you’re struggling to decide which important buildings to photograph, then rooftop photography will take the dilemma out of your hands as you can get several in one shot!
It’s a type of photography that works well at any time of day and as long as the sky is clear, you’re certain to get some great shots.
2. Take To A Hilltop
Hilltops work in a similar way to rooftops only your subject matter is more likely to be natural than architecture. Hills can give you a view of the topography of the location that staying on the ground can’t.
This especially works well at sunrise and sunset as you will get a great view of the sun on the horizon. Depending on the hill, reaching the top might be a challenge but we’re sure you’ll find it worth the effort.
3. Take Famous Photos From A Different Angle
If you’re in a location that has a famous monument, it’s expected that you will take a photo of it. After all, who travels to Paris and doesn’t take a photo of the Eiffel Tower?
However, that means that there are millions of photos already out there so making your photo stand out can be near impossible.
Consider photographing famous sights from different angles. Don’t take the standard photo of the Eiffel Tower with it in the center of your photo, instead consider framing it to the side and look for other interesting objects to put in your frame.
Approach things from a different angle to create your own aesthetic.
4. Photograph Your Accommodation
For many of us, our travel accommodations are just somewhere to stay while we look for more interesting things to see. But, don’t overlook your lodgings! These are part of your vacation and can be part of your travel photography as well.
Take a look at the rooms you’re staying in, the outside of your building, and the different features that are hiding in plain sight. Accommodations can often reflect the destination so don’t overlook them!
5. Use Your Hands
This title might sound strange but it’s a common Instagram aesthetic that always looks great! If you’re taking a photograph of anything that can be held in the hand, frame your photo so that you have the object and your hand in view.
This works especially well with handheld food such as ice cream cones or brightly colored drinks. Hold them up so you get the best light and angle to make your food and drink photos better and more interesting (see also “How To Use Props To Enhance Your Food Photos?“).
6. Shoot The Streets
Every street has something interesting to photograph. If you’re new to travel photography and want to start out with something easy, then there is nothing easier than getting a great photo of the streets! Just pick up your camera and start walking.
There are many elements that you should look for. Keep your eyes peeled for interesting architectural features, important landmarks, spots of nature, and interesting people. If you do take any photos of people, make sure you get their permission, of course!
7. Shoot The Streets At Night
The streets of any city take on a completely different vibe and aesthetic during the night.
Before you venture out into the night, make sure that you’re going to be safe and know where you’re going as wandering the streets of an unknown city can be a dangerous adventure.
City streets always look amazing at night. The combination of moonlight and streetlights ensure that the buildings that looked ordinary during the day can look ethereal at night.
Look for buildings that create interesting shadows or are illuminated by interesting windows. Night photography is all about contrasts and you will get some amazing photos if you experiment.
8. Look For Alleyways
Photography streets will give you many great photos, but some of the most interesting photos of towns and cities come from looking for something a little different.
Don’t restrict your photography to main streets that are wide enough for vehicles to use. Instead, keep your eyes peeled for those little alleyways that are easy to miss.
Not every alleyway you see will be suitable for photography, but some of them can have interesting brickwork and be more colorful than you’d expect. You’re also less likely to capture random people in your photos!
9. Head Out Into Nature
Most of our tips so far have related to city and town photography but don’t overlook the importance of nature photography as well.
Even if you’re staying in an urban location there are probably parks and natural spaces that you can photograph so make sure you include these in your photos.
You’ll not only be able to refresh your mind by looking at nature, but you may spot some trees and wildlife that your home doesn’t have.
Nature will give you so many options and opportunities for photos. You can take photos of landscapes or focus on a single flower.
10. Get Lost
If you’re looking to take some travel photos during your vacation, you’ll probably have spent hours researching the landmarks and sights you want to see.
We highly recommend doing some research as it will keep your photography focused and help you spend your time effectively.
However, don’t overlook how much getting lost can help! Often, the best and most interesting photos come from simply wandering and seeing what you can find. This will help you to find unique sights that aren’t as common as well.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we introduced the 10 best aesthetic travel photography ideas. All of these ideas will look great on your social media and will help you to create wonderful travel photos. We hope that these ideas will inspire you!
Hey everyone, and welcome to LemonadeAndLenses.com. My name is Laura and I am the founder of this site!
For as long as I can remember, I have loved taking photographs. There is nothing I love more than looking back through old pictures, and having all of the memories come flooding back.
If you want to learn about how to take professional images, and to run your own photography business, then I can help you out, here at Lemonade And Lenses.
